A Fairytale

The fresh air hits my face, filling my lungs.

It feels so good to breathe such pure air and the view is wonderful. We walk down the first few flights of stairs toward a large deck with a huge pool and lounge chairs nearby.

We sit in a couple of chairs with a table between us and a beach umbrella overhead. The entire property blends seamlessly into the landscape. It’s undoubtedly something unique.

“Blair, I’m so sorry about what happened.”

Lina breaks the pleasant silence and pulls me out of my thoughts.

“Thank you, Lina.”

I give her a reassuring smile.

I can tell she genuinely feels bad about what happened to me.

“You know, my brother has never brought anyone here.” She pauses. “I mean, no woman has ever set foot in here besides me.”

She flashes a mischievous smile.

I don’t understand where she’s going with this.

“I find that hard to believe,” I say, laughing. “Your brother’s love life is splashed all over the magazine covers.”

“Yeah, you’re right. He attracts women and was quite the womanizer.”

She throws her arms up and rolls her eyes.

“I don’t know how they all fall at his feet. He’s so cold.”

My eyes widen.

Cold?

Leonard? The “Heartbreaker”? My boss?

“It’s not quite like that, Lina,” I reply with a smile.

I don’t want to tell her that all he has to do is point a finger at a woman at work, and four or five pairs of panties fall off his female employees.

He’s a Greek god.

“He’s cold and arrogant when it comes to work, but if there’s a woman who catches his eye, he certainly turns into a little lamb chasing after her.”

Lina lets out a surprised laugh, but one that shows she agrees with me.

I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy just imagining him being too attentive to another woman.

Even though she’s nothing to him.

“You know…”

She shifts in her chair, showing her discomfort at what she’s about to say.

“He let slip that it all started because the people at the company found out that you’re still…”

I anticipate the word she’s about to say and immediately start sighing and rolling my eyes.

Just thinking about the subject and the embarrassment leaves me completely exasperated.

“Yes. Unfortunately, they found out, and… one too many drinks reveals what’s hidden in certain men.”

Lina reaches out and takes my hand, comforting me.

“You don’t have to justify yourself. I actually feel a certain admiration and… envy toward you.”

“What? Why?”

I can’t hide my shock.

“Saving yourself for the one you love. Something we have that’s ours only once.”

She smiles.

“It seems like life and your good judgment are really giving you the chance to live a fairytale—one of those princess stories.”

I can’t help but laugh.

“Lina, this is more of a curse than a blessing. Not having slept with anyone my age has already made me the subject of gossip all over my workplace—and worse, I was attacked by a drunk man there!”

I shake my head.

“I might as well sleep with the first man who crosses my path and settle this once and for all.”

The moment I finish my sentence, Leonard shows up.

He immediately notices how red I’ve turned and how I’ve looked away.

Lina tosses her head back and laughs loudly, leaving her brother completely bewildered.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing, nothing!”

“Well, Blair, if you really want to settle this, there’s no one better than him.”

Lina stands up and pats Leonard on the chest, leaving us alone.